Combined picture cover and frame.



PATENTED MAY 10. 1904.

J.s.BARGUs. X COMBINED PICTURE COVER AND FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2D, 1903.

2 'SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

J. S. BARCUS. COMBINED PICTURE COVER AND FRAME APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1903.l

2 SHBETS-SHBBT 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patented May 1o, 1904. i

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. BARCUS, OE TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

COMBINED PICTURE COVER AND FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,839, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed August 20, 1903- Selial N0. 170,134. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. BARcUs, of Terre Haute, county of Vigo, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Picture Cover and Frame, of which the following' is a specification.

In selling' unframed pictures, maps, &c., it is customary for a canvasser to carry them rolled up in a flexible cover which is unrolled before a prospective purchaser to expose the pictures to view. The pictures, however, particularly after being' rolled up for a length of time, will not remain fiat when unrolled with out being held or weighted, and hence cannot be conveniently exposed either horizontally or in an upright position. Furthermore, where a number of pictures are carried in the cover it is diflicult to hold them in an unrolled position and at the same time explain to the customer the merits of the dierent pictures.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to provide means whereby a picture or a series of them can be easily carried from place to place and whenever desired can be quickly and conveniently placed on exhibition.

rIhe invention consists generally in a iiexible cover and a collapsible frame carried thereby.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of a picture-exhibiting frame e1nbodying my invention, the device being shown ready for use. Eig. 2 is a view showing the frame folded. Eig. 3 is a detail of the device for fastening' the abutting ends of the collapsible sections of the frame together. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of this device. Fig. 6 is a detail showing a convenient manner of securing the ends of the frame to the flexible back to permit the ends of a series of pictures to be inserted between them. Fig. 7 is a detail of a clip device for holding the sides of the frame in their collapsed position. Eig. 8 is a modified construction adapted particularly for use with square pictures. Fig. 9 is a detail showing the manner of securing' one end of the horizontal rod in Fig. 8 to the upright rod of the frame. Fig. 10 is a side view showing the position of' the pivoted arms when folded together. Fig. 11 isa plan view show* ing the construction of frame illustrated in Fig. 8 with a picture between the rods and back. Fig. 12 is an end view showing the device folded.

In the drawings, 2 represents a suitable back or cover of flexible material, preferably leather, made of any desired size and shape, according' to the pictures to be exhibited, and provided with a buckle 2', adapted to receive a strap 2". Near each end of this cover I provide rods 3, secured to the cover by any suitable means, preferably bolts 4, and carrying' a plurality of spring-clips 5. rIhese rods form the ends of the temporary frame shown in Fig. 1 and act as a stick around which the flexible cover is rolled. The ends of the pictures are inserted between these rods and the' back and are held thereby. It is desirable to provide means for preventing the roll of pictures from rolling up the cover and also to al* low the cover to be placed in an upright po sition on a table, desk, or chair for the purpose of exhibiting a picture. I therefore provide arms 6 and 7, hinged to their respective rods near each end and adapted to be folded down parallel therewith and engage the clips 5, which will prevent the arms from swinging out of their proper position when the device is not in use. These arms lap by each other, as will be noted from an examination of' Fig. 2, and permit the device to become compactly folded and rolled. Any suitable means may be provided for uniting the adjacent ends of the arms 6 and 7 but 'I have shown a spring Sarranged within the end of one arm between a fixed block 9 and a sliding-block 10, that is connected by a pin 11 with a sleeve 12 through a slot 13. The end of the sleeve 12 is adapted to slip over the opposite arm and be held thereon by the pressure of the spring 8.

V In Fig. 4: I have shown a slight modification, which consists in providing simply a sleeve 14 adapted to slip over the abutting ends of the arms 6 and 7 and having' a slot 15 adapted to receive a pin 16 on one of said arms. 'Ihe sleeve is slidable lengthwise on the said arms, the stop-pin limiting the length- IOO wise movement thereof. In Fig. 5 I have shown still another modication, which consists in providing' a sliding bolt 17 in one of said arms, operated by means of a pin 18, eX- tending through a slot 19 and normally pressed toward a recess 2O in the end of the opposite arm by a spring' 21.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a rod 3 mounted on the bolts 4 beneath a spring 22, the pressure of which tends to hold the rod and cover together, but will yield readily to allow the ends of the pictures to be inserted between them.

Where the pictures are substantially square or of a greater width than length, it will be unnecessary to provide sectional sides or endsV for the temporary frame, andItherefore provide an arm 23, hinged at one end to one of the rods 3 and having a flattened opposite end 24 adapted to enter a slot 25 in the opposite rod and provided with a hole 26 to receive a pin 27. By lifting up on this pin the arm can be readily disengaged and folded back to a position substantially parallel with the rod whereon it is hinged.

In using my invention the flexible cover is lirst unrolled, the ends of pictures inserted under cross-rods, exposing the pictures with their ends held in place by the cross-rods. The arms are then swung around and their abutting ends secured together, forming a rigid temporary frame for the pictures that will allow them to be exhibited in either a horizontal or an uprig'ht position. When the exhibition is finished, the arms are separated,

folded back upon the ends of the frame, one or both ends of pictures-released, and the device is then ready to be rolled up.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a flexible back, of rods secured thereon, and arms collapsibly connecting said rods and forming therewith when unfolded a temporary frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a iiexible back or cover, of rods mounted thereon, arms hinged to said rods, and means connecting the adjacent ends of the opposite arms, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with aflexible back or cover, of rods secured thereon, arms pivoted on said rods and adapted to be folded down substantially parallel therewith, clips carried by said rods andl engaging said arms when folded, and means forming a rigid connection between the abutting ends of said arms when unfolded. v

4. The combination, with afiexible back or cover, of posts provided. thereon, rods slidably mounted on said posts, springs provided on said posts and yieldingly holding said rods in contact with said cover, and collapsible means connecting the opposite corresponding ends of said rods, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17 th day of August, 1903.

JAMES S. BARCUS. In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, S. V. GRIFFIN. 

